Max Rooke begins his first season as an assistant coach for the Pepperdine women's soccer program.

Rooke joins the Waves' staff after most recently serving as assistant coach at Illinois-Springfield and prior to that at his alma mater, Mercer. While at UIS, Rooke also served as Director of Coaching for the Springfield Area Soccer Association.

Before joining the staff at Mercer, Rooke worked as the head coach for both the boy's and girls' soccer programs at Tattnall High School, a position he held since 2003. In his time at Tattnall, he guided the boys' team to two Georgia Independent Schools Association (GISA) State Final Four Appearances (2005, 2008) along with a GISA Regional 3 AAA Championship in 2005.

Rooke was named the GISA Region 3 AAA Coach of the Year twice (2004, 2005) as well as the GISA State Coach of the Year in 2004.

Rooke also brings many years of collegiate and professional playing experience to his position. Playing collegiately for Mercer University, he earned all-academic honors in each of his four years. He was twice an All-South American selection (2000, 2001) and was the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year in 2001. He served as the team captain in each of his last three seasons and in 2005 he became the first male soccer player in school history to have his jersey retired.

His professional experience stretches overseas as he was also a member of the Great Britain National Soccer Team, playing in two world championships, and also with the professional Reading Football Club.

A native of Reading, England, Max graduated from Mercer in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in Education. He currently holds his NSCAA Premier Coaching Diploma.

Max and his wife, Noelle, have been married for six years. Noelle is currently the head women's volleyball coach at Illinois-Springfield.